Why Peter Failed

Luke 22:54-62

"Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

Peters failuars.

Jesus warned Peter about His falling!

Matthew 26: 31-35 "1 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." 

35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

1. Peter failed because of His self-confidence.

Improper self-confidence is the first step to falling. There is a proneness in all of us to become over-confident. 

Satan is active to lead people who think that they are very spiritual, that become overconfident in themselves. 

Jesus warned Peter when He told Him "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."

But Peter's over-confidence says, "Even If I die wirh you, I will not deny you."

Rsv. translates it this way. "Though they all fall because of you, I will never, never, fall away from you,"

Peter failed because he trusted in his own strenth, being self-confident.

Let's just say this, that self-confidence is good in some cases but not when we are in the war with the Devil.

John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing."

Ephesians 6:10-18

v.10 "Be strong in the Lord."

V.11 "Put on the whole amor of God."

v.13 "Stand in the grace of God."

v.14 "Gird up with God's truth, and put on the breastplate of                  rightousness."

v.15 "Have the preparation of the gospel of peace."

v.16 "Take the shield of faith."

v.17 "Put on the helmet of salvation, it is the word of God!"

v.18 "Praying in the Spirit!"

2. Peters fear statements!

Matt. 26:60-70 "Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied it before them all, saying "I do not know what you are saying."

v. 71 "Another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus , but again he denied with an oath, "I do not know Him,"

v. 73-75 "3 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Peter came face to face with his weakness and that was his self-confidence. 

I began to think about Pater's failure and I ask why. Why did the Peter and the other disciples fail?

I could only come up with one answer. "FEAR"

Fear of death. Fear of suffering and dying on the cross.

This obsessive fear of a horrible and shamful death drove Peter, not once, not twice but three times.

Peter was afaid for Jesus but more for himself.

Peters faceing His failuars.

 v. 75 "Peter remembered the words of Jesus.

There is a verse in Luke 22:61 "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered."

Can you imagine denying that you knew Jesus and then turning to lock eyes with him?

Peter felt that sting. Peter was no longer prideful and arrogant; his denial had vanished. He was stricken with the grave reality of what just happened. Jesus was right; Peter was wrong. 

Peter denied Jesus but he was convicted and had godly sorrow. Even so, I have a feeling Peter hadn't stopped thinking about what he had done. I’m sure part of him didn't even want to look at Jesus after what he had done. Jesus reinstated Peter by asking him three times if he loved him to “make up” for the three times he denied him.

Peter was hurt because he realized what Jesus was doing. When we betray someone even their forgiveness can hurt. We're embarrassed and guilt-ridden. Jesus didn’t rub it in, though. We don’t see Jesus scolding Peter; he didn’t have to. Peter felt bad enough as it was.

Maybe you’ve denied Jesus in word or deed. Maybe at one point in your life you acknowledged that you knew Jesus but have drifted away, living a life of denial. Maybe you loved other people or things more than Jesus. But then you felt convicted and you were sorry that you betrayed your Savior. But will he forgive you after what you've done?

Answer: 

I John 2:1-2 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

I John 1: 9 " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Conclusion:

Peter's happy ending can be your happy ending. Jesus wants to reinstate you. If you're like Peter, having the combination of conviction and godly sorrow, that will lead you to repentance and restoration.

Peter wasn’t brought to conviction until he locked eyes with Jesus and he recognized that he had sinned against his Lord.

Peter went on to become a dynamic servant of God. He wasn't perfect, but he was changed. He learned from his experience and he was bold and courageous for the cause of Christ. Peter went from denying Christ to denying self in taking up his cross and following Jesus. And in this happy ending,